Plug arrangements for alleviating peak loads

Abstract

Methods and arrangements for load-shifting time deferrable devices. An electrical load scheduling mechanism is provided, and this is placed in communication with an appliance. Electrical grid load conditions are assessed, and delivery of electrical power to the appliance is scheduled via the electrical load scheduling mechanism. The scheduling includes altering a predetermined delivery of electric power to the appliance based on the assessed electrical grid conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 providing an electrical load scheduling mechanism; 
 placing the electrical load scheduling mechanism in communication with an appliance; 
 the electrical load scheduling mechanism comprising an object which is separable from the appliance and which transmits electrical power between an electrical grid and the appliance, wherein the appliance plugs into the electrical load scheduling mechanism and wherein the electrical load scheduling mechanism connects to the electrical grid; 
 assessing electrical grid load conditions from the electrical load scheduling mechanism; 
 accepting user input at a user interface of the electrical load scheduling mechanism, wherein said user input comprises at least one user-specified time constraint related to a time frame of delivery of electrical power to the appliance and user-specified time windows associated with at least one alternative energy source, wherein the at least one alternative energy source is different than the electrical grid; and 
 scheduling delivery of electrical power to the appliance via the electrical load scheduling mechanism from the at least one alternative energy source; 
 said scheduling comprising altering a predetermined delivery of electric power to the appliance based on the assessed electrical grid conditions and on the accepted user input. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said scheduling is performed solely with respect to the appliance with which the electrical load scheduling mechanism is in communication. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a plug. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said altering comprises interrupting delivery of electrical power to the appliance responsive to grid imbalance. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the assessed electrical grid conditions include electrical grid line frequency. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said altering comprises rescheduling delivery of electrical power to the appliance from a peak load period to a non-peak load period based on assessed electrical grid load conditions. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the assessed electrical grid load conditions include electrical grid line voltage. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said rescheduling comprises rescheduling delivery of electrical power to a randomly determined time. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said altering comprises deferring delivery of electrical power responsive to a probabilistic determination of current grid capacity. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said altering comprises altering delivery of electrical power to the appliance based additionally on historical grid load patterns. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith and executable by the at least one processor, the computer readable program code comprising: 
 computer readable program code configured to accommodate an electrical load scheduling mechanism; 
 computer readable program code configured to placing the electrical load scheduling mechanism in communication with an appliance; 
 the electrical load scheduling mechanism comprising an object which is separable from the appliance and which transmits electrical power between an electrical grid and the appliance, wherein the appliance plugs into the electrical load scheduling mechanism and wherein the electrical load scheduling mechanism connects to the electrical grid; 
 computer readable program code configured to assess electrical grid load conditions from the electrical load scheduling mechanism; 
 computer readable program code configured to accept user input at a user interface of the electrical load scheduling mechanism, wherein said user input comprises at least one user-specified time constraint related to a time frame of delivery of electrical power to the appliance and user-specified time windows associated with at least one alternative energy source, wherein the at least one alternative energy source is different than the electrical grid; 
 computer readable program code configured to schedule delivery of electrical power to the appliance via the electrical load scheduling mechanism from the at least one alternative energy source; 
 computer readable program code configured to schedule via altering a predetermined delivery of electric power to the appliance based on the assessed electrical grid conditions and on the accepted user input; and 
 computer readable program code configured to control, based on the computer readable program code configured to schedule, delivery of electrical power. 
 
     
     
       12. A computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising: 
 computer readable program code configured to accommodate an electrical load scheduling mechanism; 
 computer readable program code configured to placing the electrical load scheduling mechanism in communication with an appliance; 
 the electrical load scheduling mechanism comprising an object which is separable from the appliance and which transmits electrical power between an electrical grid and the appliance, wherein the appliance plugs into the electrical load scheduling mechanism and wherein the electrical load scheduling mechanism connects to the electrical grid; 
 computer readable program code configured to assess electrical grid load conditions from the electrical load scheduling mechanism; 
 computer readable program code configured to accept user input at a user interface of the electrical load scheduling mechanism, wherein said user input comprises at least one user-specified time constraint related to a time frame of delivery of electrical power to the appliance and user-specified time windows associated with at least one alternative energy source, wherein the at least one alternative energy source is different than the electrical grid; 
 computer readable program code configured to schedule delivery of electrical power to the appliance via the electrical load scheduling mechanism from the at least one alternative energy source; 
 computer readable program code configured to schedule via altering a predetermined delivery of electric power to the appliance based on the assessed electrical grid conditions and on the accepted user input; and 
 computer readable program code configured to control, based on the computer readable program code configured to schedule, delivery of electrical power. 
 
     
     
       13. The computer program product according to  claim 12 , wherein said computer readable program code is configured to perform the scheduling solely with respect to the appliance with which the electrical load scheduling mechanism is in communication. 
     
     
       14. The computer program product according to  claim 12 , wherein the object comprises a plug. 
     
     
       15. The computer program product according to  claim 12 , wherein said computer readable program code is configured to interrupt delivery of electrical power to the appliance responsive to grid imbalance. 
     
     
       16. The computer program product according to  claim 15 , wherein the assessed electrical grid conditions include electrical grid line frequency. 
     
     
       17. The computer program product according to  claim 12 , wherein said computer readable program code is configured to reschedule delivery of electrical power to the appliance from a peak load period to a non-peak load period based on assessed electrical grid load conditions. 
     
     
       18. The computer program product according to  claim 17 , wherein the assessed electrical grid load conditions include electrical grid line voltage. 
     
     
       19. The computer program product according to  claim 17 , wherein said computer readable program code is configured to reschedule delivery of electrical power to a randomly determined time. 
     
     
       20. The computer program product according to  claim 12 , wherein said computer readable program code is configured to defer delivery of electrical power responsive to a probabilistic determination of current grid capacity. 
     
     
       21. The computer program product according to  claim 12 , wherein said computer readable program code is configured to alter delivery of electrical power to the appliance based additionally on historical grid load patterns.